Bulletin for January 6, 2008

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY-EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

7:00 For Our Ascension Family
9:00 Marilyn Gaeke (Gaynor)
10:30 Don Callahan (Colussi)
12:00 Paula Deschler (Family)

MONDAY-CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
9:00 Margaret Kelly (Sprauer)

TUESDAY-CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
9:00 Michael Beirise (Mother)

WEDNESDAY-CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
9:00 Maria Pietrantonio (Family)

THURSDAY-CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
9:00 All Souls (Catimbang)

FRIDAY-CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
9:00 Grace Taylor (Neuhauser)

SATURDAY-CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
9:00 Sharon Feist
5:00 Ivy Pabarue (Walsh)

SUNDAY-BAPTISM OF THE LORD
7:00 For Our Ascension Family
9:00 Dorothy Schneider (Schneider)
10:30 Ray Heindl (Schmalstig)
12:00 Bill Lauter (Manzo)

SICK AND SHUT-IN LIST
As a parish family concerned for one another, we ask your prayerful support of our hospitalized members.
KETTERING: Sharon Hodge
MIAMI VALLEY: Marilyn Heindl

NURSING HOME OR HOMEBOUND PARISHIONERS
If you know of any parishioners who are homebound or in a nursing home that are not being visited by a Eucharistic Minister please let Sister Agnes know. We do want to keep in touch.

2008 GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
The 2008 Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass for couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary will be held March 29 at St. Christopher Parish in Vandalia. Couples celebrating their Golden or Silver Wedding Anniversary during 2008 should notify the parish by February 15.

JUST A REMINDER
Starting January 2008 Direct Giving is available to help make things more convenient for you. We have added an Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) payment option for Sunday contributions. You determine your contribution level for each month and the donation is transferred for you. Forms are available in the narthex of church or the parish web site. This form of giving cost you nothing and provides many advantages to both you and your parish.

WINTER CONCERT
The combined choirs of St. Helen’s, the regular choir and the hand-bell choir, will be having a concert on Sunday, January 6th at 2:00pm. There is no charge for this concert but donations will be accepted for their Music Ministry Fund. They hope that you can come and spend an hour or so in the afternoon listening to and enjoying the sounds of their choirs. What a wonderful way to begin the New Year!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Classes resume today, Sunday, January 6.
Volunteers needed: Would you be willing to discuss the Sunday gospel with students on Sunday mornings, or sub on Monday afternoons in the Elementary program? Please call the RE Office at 254-0622.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! If you have a child not currently attending Ascension School or in the Religious Education program Grades 1-8, please contact the please contact Sue Graham in the RE Office to register.

WELCOME, CHILDREN
The Religious Education Program welcomes school-age children who have never received religious education or who have not been baptized or received First Communion. We also have a Sunday morning Early Childhood Program for children age 3 (by September 30, 2007) – age 5. Please call Sue Graham in the Religious Education Office at 254-0622 to discuss the options for your child.

FIRST RECONCILIATION PARENTS MEETING
Parents of all children who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time should attend a meeting in the Witzman Center on Monday, January 14. Two sessions will be held: 4:30-5:30 p.m. and 7:00-8:00 p.m. Please choose the session that is most convenient for you.

YOUTH MINISTRY
LIFE Group Vocation Event – All LIFE Groups will join together Sunday, January 6, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Witzman Center for a special session on vocation awareness. Open to all parish HS Youth.

HS Retreat Team forming – 9-12th grade teens are invited to assist in planning and leading our winter retreat on President’s Day weekend. Team meetings Sundays, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

January/February. Contact the Youth Office for details, 253-1997 or jmurray@ascensionkettering.org.

Family Ski Trip – Sunday, January 27 at Perfect North Slopes. Overnight retreat option

Saturday at YMCA with games, swimming and retreat activities. Open to JH & HS youth and family members. Flyers coming soon.

NCYC – YOUTH SHARING EXPERIENCES
Come to Coffee & Donuts on January 13, to see photos and share in the stories of our youth who attended the National Catholic Youth conference in Columbus. Discover the power this life-faith experience had in the lives of our parish young people.

WHY CATHOLIC?
Our Why Catholic? small groups will restart the week of January 27 for six weeks of Lent. Study of Scripture and Catholic teachings will continue with Life in Christ: Walking with God. We are in need of additional small group leaders. If interested in facilitating a group or joining a small group, contact Jim Murray 253-1997 or jmurray@ascensionketteing.org.

STORYTELLERS: YOUTH MINISTRY THROUGH DRAMA
Dayton Area Youth Ministries presentation of the musical “No Greater Love” will be the weekends of February 29 and March 7 in various churches throughout Dayton. All High School age youth (classes ’08-’11) are invited to be a part of this incredible experience as actors, singers, musicians and crew. All who audition are cast. Auditions for actions, singers and musicians are at St. Christopher Parish (435 E. National Rd. Vandalia) on January 13 at 1:00 p.m. or January 14 at 7:00 p.m. Crew should come to an initial planning meeting on January 15 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Christopher. If you have any questions please contact Jim Murray or jmurray@ascensionkettering.org

BINGO WORKERS NEEDED
Bingo workers are needed on Thursday evenings. If you can work one Thursday a month in our SMOKE FREE bingo, please call Bingo Ralph at 299-2416 or Paul Nozar at 426-7593. No experience necessary. Proceeds from bingo go directly to Education Ascension. Education Ascension provides needed tuition assistance to Ascension families with children attending Ascension School or Religious education programs. Scholarships to Catholic high schools are also available.

This is a great way to help to help out Ascension and meet some of your fellow Ascensionites. Try it! You’ll like it!

ST. ALBERT THE GREAT FISH FRY
The Fish Fry will be held in the School Cafeteria and Parish Center, 104 W. Dorothy Lane on January 25 from 7:00-Miidnight, $15.00 person; $12.00 prepaid. Adults 21 and over. Carry-out from 5:00-6:30 p.m. $8.00 per dinner.

REPORTING ABUSE
If you know someone who has been abused at any time by an agent of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (priest, deacon, employee or volunteer), the Archdiocese urges you to contact Sr. Mary Garke, the Victims’ Assistance Coordinator of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, at 1-800-686-2724 as well as the victim’s secular legal authorities.

IS YOUR MARRIAGE HURTING IN ANYWAY?
Has your marriage grown cold, distant, unloving or uncaring? Then please consider Retrouvaille – a program designed to help heal and renew marriages. Retrouvaille is for marriages that have lost some of their spark, for marriages having difficulties in communication and even those marriages on the edge of separation or divorce. The next program begins January 11-13. For more information call 513-398-3137. Other weekends and locations are available – call for details.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Elizabeth’s New Life Center, a faith-based pro-life ministry, has two openings in the Education Department:

High School Presenter-full-time; to present marriage-supportive programs to high school students.

Evaluation Aide-part-time, 20 hours/week; to assist with evaluating middle school presentations.

Interested persons must have excellent communication skills and enjoy working with young people For more information go to www.ElizabethHelps.com and click on the Job Postings link.

PARENTING POINTERS
On this 11th Day of Christmas you may not be able to give your child 11 pipers piping, but you can give the gift of music. You say you’re not musical. Ask your child to sing for you. Buy a whistle or a kazoo. Play a CD of background music during dinner. Sing a silly song together.

MARRIAGE MOMENTS
By Susan Vogt www.SusanVogt.net
The three magi’s search for Jesus reminds us that Jesus came for all humankind, not just the Jewish people. So too, married love is not a gift to be hoarded. Reach out to someone who is sad, in trouble, or from a different culture. Can you do it together?

SUPERVISED VISITATION IN CHILD PROTECTION
Erma’s House Family Visitation Center is dedicated to providing a safe, child-centered setting for children and families who require supervised visitation and exchange services due to a history of family or domestic violence. By reducing the conflict around visitation issues, the likelihood of additional family violence is also reduced, and child safety is assured. Vanessa Montez, MSW, LSW, Erma’s House Assistant Program Manager, will be joined by a panel of representatives from Montgomery County Courts and social service agencies to explain the role of supervised visitation in our community. A light lunch served at noon will be followed by a tour of Erma’s House with the presentation at 1:00 p.m. at Catholic Social Services’ Center for Families, 1046 Brown Street. Call 223-7217 x 2128 or register via e-mail: jacksonk@cssmv.org . Free. Pre-registration is encouraged.

PARISH REGISTRATION
We are glad to welcome you as a member of our Parish Family. To register, stop by the Witzman Center (church basement) after the 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. Masses next weekend. Some members of the Welcome Committee will be there to help you get acquainted and fill out a registration card.

TIME FOR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!
This year resolve to make your marriage better than it’s ever been! Make your good marriage GREAT with a marriage Encounter Weekend! The next Marriage Encounter weekends in this area are February 15-17 and March 28-30. Weekends fill up quickly, so a prompt response is encouraged to avoid the waiting list. Fore more details/reservations call Chuck or Carolyn Destefani at 1-800-547-1251 Code 00 or on the web at www.esharing.org.

DIVORCE CARE
A special help seminar and support group for adults experiencing divorce or separation will be held Thursday evenings, 7-9PM, January 17 – April 17 at St. Francis of Assisi, Centerville. DivorceCare features nationally recognized experts on divorce and recovery topics such as anger, loneliness, new relationships, etc. DivorceCare For Kids is another support group which will run concurrently with the adult sessions. It is a special place for children, ages 5-12 to find help and healing with other kids who understand what it feels like when parents divorce. Registration fee is $25. Scholarships/family rates available. For more info call John Muhlenkamp 435-4613 or Rita Nieport 435-9246.

ASCENSION’S ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK
Complete calendar online: www.ascensionkettering.org/calendar.htm

SUNDAY
St. Vincent DePaul Collection
Sports Sign-ups After Mass
10:00 Baptism Prep-POB
10:15 RE Middle School
10:30 Early Childhood
10:30 Traditional Choir
11:45 HSYM LIFE Groups-YMR
1:00 Scrapping-WC
5:00 HSYM LIFE Groups-YMR
7:00 HSYM LIFE Groups-YMR

MONDAY
School Resumes
1:00 Network of Care-POB
4:15 Elementary RE
6:30 RE Middle School

TUESDAY
7:00 Sharing Our Gifts-POB
7:00 Stewardship Meeting-POB
7:00 RCIA-WC
7:30 Contemporary Choir Practice-Church

WEDNESDAY
1:00 Leisure Club-WC
7:30 Worship Commission-POB

THURSDAY
6:30 Bingo-PAC
6:45 Education Commission Meeting-POB
7:00 Traditional Choir Practice-Church
7:00 Area Coordinators Respect Life-POB

FRIDAY
2:00 Common Sense Parenting-WC

SATURDAY
8:00 Men’s Fellowship-WC
4:00 Confessions
5:00 Mass

SUNDAY
Parish Registration After 9:00 & 10:30 Masses-WC
Coffee & Donuts After 9:00 & 10:30 Masses-WC
9:00 Contemporary Choir
10:15 RE Middle School
10:30 Early Childhood
10:30 Traditional Choir
1:00 Baptism